Combination boat stabiliser and sail kit

ABSTRACT

A sail and stabiliser float kit suitable for attachment to and use with a normally unstable small boat such as a canoe includes a pair of out-rigger floats carried by a tandem frame consisting of a pair of laterally extending spars securable to the gunwale of a boat, having a pair of lightweight floats extending downwardly from the ends thereof, a stub mast secured to the centre of the forward one of the transverse spars, having a pair of rigid braces extending downwardly and rearwardly from the stub mast and secured to the rearward transverse spar outboard of the gunwale to provide both transverse and fore and aft stabilisation to the stub mast, to which is pivotted a mast and boom. A pair of leeboards are removeably attached to the rearward spar, being thus located aft of the stub mast, and a rudder also is provided, to give a highly stable performance characteristic including improved load carrying capability of the boat.

United States Patent [191 McDougall I [4 1 Sept. 2, 1975 COMBINATIONBOAT STABILISER AND SAIL KIT [76] Inventor: Hugh McDougall, 4 RollingMeadows, West Hill, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1974 [21] Appl.No.: 465,610

Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner.1esus D. Sotelo [5 7]ABSTRACT A sail and stabiliser float kit suitable for attachment to anduse with a normally unstable small boat such as a canoe includes a pairof out-rigger floats carried by a tandem frame consisting of a. pair oflaterally extending spars securable to the gunwale of a boat, having apair of lightweight floats extending downwardly from the ends thereof, astub mast secured to the centre of the forward one of the transversespars, having a pair of rigid braces extending downwardly and rearwardlyfrom the stub. mast and secured to the rearward transverse spar outboardof the gunwale to provide both transverse and fore and aft stabilisationto the stub mast, to which is pivotted a mast and boom. A pair ofleeboards are removeably attached to the rearward spar, being thuslocated aft of the stub mast, and a rudder also is provided, to give ahighly stable performance characteristic including improved loadcarrying capability of the boat.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures COMBINATION BOAT STABILISER AND SAIL KITBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to aremoveable or socalled strap-on kit particularly suited for use withsmall boats, including canoes, the kit including outboard stabilisationfloats and mast mountings.

While the provision of sail kits for use with canoes is known, and whileoutriggers have been used by people in the south seas, the presentinvention provides a particular combination kit including sail mountingprovisions and outrigger stabilisation floats, together with lee-boardprovisions, possessing a number of structural and functional advantagesover the known prior art.

The prior arrangement best known to the applicant is set forth in US.Pat. No. 3,041,994, J. H. Brodie, July 3, 1962. This prior arrangementutilises a transverse member clamped across the gunwales of a canoe andterminating in a pair of lee-boards secured to the ends thereof. Abracket suspended from the transverse member receives the bottom of themast in stepped relation therein, the mast passing through the centre ofthe transverse member. A rudder is also provided. This prior arrangementhas a number of structural and performance limitations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, lightweight,robust strap-on kit, readily removeable without damage from a canoe, andproviding a substantially rigidly braced stub mast to which themast-proper may be hoisted.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of additionallight-weight outrigger floatation means rigidly attachable insubstantially non-warping relation to a small boat.

A further object of the invention is the provision of lee board mountingmeans permitting the positioning of the lee board or boards at anoptimum position longitudinally of the boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects are achieved inaccordance with this invention by the provision of a boat stabilisingand sail attachment kit for use in detachable clamping relation with thehull ofa boat comprising frame means for securing across the boat hullin transversely extending relation therewith when in use, a pair offloatation pontoon means attachable in an outboard location to the framemeans, mast stepping means secured to the frame means to receive mastmeans in stepped sup ported relation in substantive coincidence with thecentre line of the boat, and mast bracing means secured to the framemeans extending therebetween in substantially rigid triangulated bracingrelation.

The provision by the present invention of a pair of spaced apart framespars for attachment in spaced apart relation on top of the gunwales ofthe boat, with the mast stepping means secured to the forward one of thespars, and at least one lee board secured in detachable relation to therearward one of the spars has the advantages of enhanced mast rigidity,and frame stiffness, while favourably positioning the lee board forready accessibility and enhanced performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Certain embodiments of the presentinvention are described, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a general view of an open small boat of the canoe type havinga kit according to the present invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a partial general view to a larger scale showing the mast andspar securing means;

FIG. 4 is a like view showing the float in partial section and thesecuring of a lee-board;

FIG. 5 is a view at 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view at 6-6 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the rudder and its mounting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGS. 1 and 2 the canoe 10has a kit 12 in assembled relation therewith. The kit 12 comprises afront spar l4 and rear spar 16, attached to the gunwales l5, 17 by wayof ring bolts 22 and wing nuts 24, the spars 14, 16 having a pair ofshaped floats 18 secured to the spar ends.

A stub mast 20 is secured to the forward spar 14 by way of a ring bolt22 and wing nut 24, being upwardly braced by a pair of bracing struts 26which extend downwardly, outwardly and rearwardly from the upper pointof attachment 28 with the stub mast 20 to the lower point of attachment30' with the rearward spar 16. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6 it will beseen that the illustrated port float 18 has a substantially streamlinedskin 32 and an elongated U-shaped internal bracket member 34 withupwardly extending limbs 36 and 38. The forward float limb 36 is boltedto the forward or front spar 14 the limb 36 extending through spar 14and being pinned by a ring bolt 22 and wing nut 24.

The rear float limb 38 extends through the spar 16 and is in telescopingrelation with the strut 26, being secured by a through ring bolt 22 andwing nut 24.

The float 18 is filled with suitable closed cell plastic foam such asstyrofoam of sufficient density to securely locate the U-shaped bracket34 in load transfer relation with the float.

A pair of lee boards 40 are carried by rear spar 16. Referring to FIG.5, which illustrates the port spar fitting 42, the spar 16 has a pair ofbrackets 44, 46 bolted or rivetted thereto, the lee board 40 beingpinned to the brackets by way of an elongated eye bolt 23 and wing nut24. From FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that with the bolt 23 withdrawnthe lee-board 40 can pivot upwardly about the main axis of the rear spar16, but can be securely pinned in the operative position. (FIGS. 2, 4and Referring to FIG. 7 it will be seen that a pair of stem brackets 50,52 carry the rudder 54 by way of a pivot pin 29 and wing nut 24. Atiller 55 of suitable length is provided. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3the mast proper is pivotably secured by pivot pin 62 and a bracket 64 tothe stub mast 20, with boom 66 secured to bracket 64 by a pivot pin 62..A suitable halyard 68 serves to lower or hoist the mast 60 in relationto the stub mast 20, to control the unfurling of the sail 70.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a simple lightweightkit that provides additional floatation as well as stability by the useof floats 18. The wide triangulation of the bracing struts 26 providessignificant rigidity to the stub mast 20, with the transfer of minimalstresses to the boat hull at the gunwales 15, 17. The space frame effectof the longitudinally spaced spars l4 and 16 provides significantlongitudinal intervals for the plane of mast attachment, in relation tothe plane of the leeboards point of action, and the plane of action ofthe rudder at pivot pin 29.

Furthermore, the location of the lee boards 40 is sufficiently rearward,towards the stern of the boat, to significantly facilitate raising orlowering of the boards 40 by the occupant, while the effective lee-boardarea is close to the centre of gravity of the boat to promote handlingcharacteristics under sail.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A boat stabilising and sail attachment kit for use in detachableclamping relation with the hull of a boat, including frame means forsecuring across the hull in transversely extending relation therewith,when in use, a pair of flotation pontoon means attachable in an outboardlocation to the frame means, mast stepping means comprising a stub mastextending substantially vertically from and secured to the frame meanshaving I 4 ping means. I

2. The kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame means includes apair of spaced apart frame spars for attachment in spaced apart relationon top of the gunwales of said boat, and at least one lee-board securedin detachable relation to a said frame spar.

3. The kit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said mast stepping means isattached to the forward one of said spars, said bracing means comprisinga pair of downwardly divergent struts having the lower ends thereofattached to the rearward one of said spars, to provide triangulatedsupport to said mast means both laterally and longitudinally in relationto said boat.

4. The kit as claimed in claim 3 wherein said lee board is secured tosaid rearward spar in longitudinally spaced relation from said mastmeans whereby in use said lee-board is located more closely to thecentre of gravity of said boat than is said mast means, to enhancecooperation between the working areas of said lee board and rudder meansmounted at the stern of the boat.

5. The kit as claimed in claim 4 in combination with said boat,including a rudder and two said lee boards, said flotation pontoonsbeing of lightweight, foam filled construction.

1. A boat stabilising and sail attachment kit for use in detachableclamping relation with the hull of a boat, including frame means forsecuring across the hull in transversely extending relation therewith,when in use, a pair of flotation pontoon means attachable in an outboardlocation to the frame means, mast stepping means comprising a stub mastextending substantially vertically from and secured to the frame meanshaving a main mast means in stepped supported relation secured adjacentthe bottom of said stub mast in substantial coincidence with thecentreline of the boat, and mast bracing means detachably secured to theframe means in misaligned relation with said stub mast to providetriangulation therewith extending upwardly and converging inwardly forattachment to said mast stepping means.
 2. The kit as claimed in claim 1wherein said frame means includes a pair of spaced apart frame spars forattachment in spaced apart relation on top of the gunwales of said boat,and at least one lee-board secured in detachable relation to a saidframe spar.
 3. The kit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said mast steppingmeans is attached to the forward one of said spars, said bracing meanscomprising a pair of downwardly divergent struts having the lower endsthereof attached to the rearward one of said spars, to providetriangulated support to said mast means both laterally andlongitudinally in relation to said boat.
 4. The kit as claimed in claim3 wherein said lee board is secured to said rearward spar inlongitudinally spaced relation from said mast means whereby in use saidlee-board is located more closely to the centre of gravity of said boatthan is said mast means, to enhance cooperation between the workingareas of said lee board and rudder means mounted at the stern of theboat.
 5. The kit as claimed in claim 4 in combination with said boat,including a rudder and two said lee boards, said flotation pontoonsbeing of lightweight, foam filled construction.